Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/3

Chiefs Players Looking Forward to "Real Football" on Monday from The Mothership

The pads will be on for the first time at training camp as the Chiefs prepare for the 2015 season with their first preseason game coming up in a couple of weeks against the Arizona Cardinals.

Monday's practice begins at 8:15 a.m. and is open to the public. You can find all training camp information at KCChiefs.com/trainingcamp.

While fans look forward to hearing the familiar sound of pads popping from their favorite players, the guys out on the field are looking forward to it as well.

What We Learned From Sunday's Chiefs Media Availability from The Mothership

And as in Philadelphia, so is in Kansas City. Pederson said wide receiver Jeremy Maclin could double as a short weapon as well as stretching the backfield.

"When we had him in Philadelphia," he said, "we kind of used him at that capacity and then we stretched the field more as he grew as a receiver.

"He's got such great short area quickness, and he's got great transition in and out of breaks. He's such a smooth route runner. He understands defenses, the complexity of defenses and what they are trying to do to stop him. He brings a level of competitiveness that group needs and a veteran leadership within that room.

"He's just blessed. Some guys can catch and some guys can't. He takes pride in that, and he works on it every day. He wants to catch and learn, and a lot of it is his ability to get open and make the plays. He's a tremendous asset that way."

Eric Berry Appeared on Good Morning America's "Speed Feed" from The Mothership

Even Michael Strahan, the most recognizable New York Giants football supporter on the planet,says he's rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs this season.

During his press conference on Wednesday, safety Eric Berry mentioned Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts as one of his inspirations for getting through chemotherapy treatments.

Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt is "Optimistic" About the Team's Chances in 2015 from The Mothership

"It's been tremendous," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a press conference Sunday. "[Saturday] afternoon, we had what I recall a capacity crowd. I'm not sure that there actually is a capacity, but the stands were full, the hill was full, people standing around the fence and the crowd this morning I thought was very good as well.

"That's one of the great things about being here. One of the reasons we love having training camp here in St. Joe is it gives our fans a chance to get up here very easily, and the players and coaches appreciate that as well."

Chiefs QB Alex Smith misfires with WR Jeremy Maclin from Chiefs Digest

But Sunday's performance shouldn't cause alarm.

"It's the second day and you've got to take everything that we have done in the last 24 hours with a conditioning test," offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said, "and then a hot afternoon practice, and coming back out here today.

"Today was more of just kind of getting the juices flowing again. It takes a couple of days and then it builds back up. That is kind of what happens during training camp. So, no concern there. We are encouraged with what is going on, and we have a lot of great days ahead of us."

Alex Smith, Jeremy Maclin suddenly look like total strangers from ESPN

Quarterback Alex Smith and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin connected on several passes a day earlier but looked like strangers in this practice. At least three times Smith threw one way while an open Maclin cut another, the result being an incomplete pass each time.

Chiefs sign RB Darrin Reaves, waive RB LaVance Taylor from Chiefs Digest

Taylor's stay with the Chiefs was short-lived after he signed Thursday. The native of Raytown, Mo., and former Central Missouri star participated in three practices leading to Sunday's transaction.

LaVance Taylor's dream ends with release from Chiefs from ESPN

Running back LaVance Taylor got to live his NFL dream, but only for four days. Taylor, signed by the Chiefs on Thursday after tweeting the team his collegiate highlights and asking for a job, was released after Sunday's practice.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has holes in his shoes, but he's healthy from Chiefs Digest

As he answered questions about his health, workload and expectations for the 2015 Chiefs season, he was still wearing the cleats he used during the on-field work. These shoes had a self-made feature to them - small holes that had been cut on the big toe area on the top of both the left and right shoes.

"I'm just trying my new shoes this year," Charles said. "Puma is making shoes for the first time this year, so I'm getting comfortable with them."

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles feels like he's 'the LeBron of football' from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is usually the focus of attention from opposing defenses. The attention gets so much that he said he can feel at times like LeBron James.

"I take it like it's a compliment,'' Charles said Saturday. "I feel like that's the only reason we get to stay in the league as long as I can. I feel like if they [can] stop me, then my time is up.

"As long as I play in this league and play on a high level, I always feel like a team is going to have to stop me. I feel like sometimes I'm the LeBron of football, especially at my position because I can do so much."

Chiefs' Tavon Rooks embraces competition for roster spot from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs have 15 offensive linemen in training camp and aren't likely to carry more than 10 on the active 53-man roster into the regular season

Competition outside of the established starters leading to final cuts will be tough, of course.

But offensive tackle Tavon Rooks looks forward to the task of battling for his spot.

"The biggest challenge is coming out every day, competing, staying focused," Rooks said Sunday. "I'm trying not to get injured and doing your job and doing it to the best of your ability without making the same mistakes twice, and the mental mistakes because that can get you cut. You don't want that."

Justin Houston arrives in Chiefs camp ready to go from ESPN

Houston arrived in camp in what appears to be excellent physical condition. Houston indicated he worked every bit as hard on his own as he would have had he been training with his teammates.

"I just made sure I was busy at all times," he said. "I knew the guys here were working and I knew the strength coaches would have these guys in shape so I didn't want to show up out of shape. Whenever I got that call, I wanted to make sure I was ready."

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway leaves practice with back injury from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs will evaluate Hemingway and likely have an update Monday.

Undrafted rookie defensive end David Irving is also dealing with a back injury and did not participate in practice.

Chiefs DT Jaye Howard has opportunity to fill Dontari Poe's role from Chiefs Digest

But the nature of the NFL means the Chiefs won't have time for self-pity without a critical member of the interior defensive line.

"This is an NFL team so you're going to have people to plug in that's pretty good, that's going to help out," inside linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "We're going to get the job done until Poe gets ready to come back. Until then, he is a big piece missing, and he's one of the guys that I rely on the most. But at the same time he knows we can get the job done and hold it down until he comes back."

Clark Hunt says Chiefs have no policy regarding players charged with crimes from ESPN

"I wouldn't say there's a hard-and-fast policy because every situation is different and it's up to (general manager John Dorsey) and his staff to do the research when a player has an incident and make a judgment call as to whether it's going to work out,'' Hunt said. "In that particular situation, it didn't. John is very aware we don't want guys who are going to be a problem in the community as part of the Kansas City Chiefs and as a result he and his team have to do a lot of work.''

Carl Peterson attends camp practice for first time since leaving Chiefs from ESPN

Relations between the Chiefs and Peterson, awful during the years when Scott Pioli was their general manager, have warmed with the arrival of general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid. Peterson called the difference "night and day." He attended a game at Arrowhead Stadium last year for the first time since his resignation or ouster, the fact being it was some of both.

"I didn't have occasion to come back," Peterson said Sunday. "Scott Pioli never invited me. John Dorsey did."

2015 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Kansas City Chiefs team outlook from CBS Sports

Jamaal Charles took a step back in his production last season from his dynamic year in 2013, but he was still a standout Fantasy running back in all leagues. And he should once again be the focal point of the Chiefs offense.

There aren't a lot of Kansas City players to like for Fantasy purposes. Charles is a stud,Travis Kelce is an emerging star and Jeremy Maclin was the high-priced free agent brought in to improve the offense. The Chiefs DST is also a starting-caliber unit, but that's about it.

Alex Smith will have his moments, but not many Fantasy owners will trust him outside of two-quarterback leagues.

Maclin shows skills at Chiefs camp from The Jefferson City News Tribune

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin stepped onto the practice field Saturday for the first time wearing a Chiefs uniform.

Maclin has prepped for seven NFL seasons, but this year marks the first time he will do so outside the state of Pennsylvania.

However, his first training camp in St. Joseph isn't necessarily unfamilar territory for the fomer Missouri star.

"It was great to get my first taste of Chiefs Kingdom," said Maclin, who garnered a slew of accolades during his time at Missouri, including two first-team All-American awards. "A lot of Mizzou chants over there."

Hall of Fame profile: Kansas City Chiefs G Will Shields from Yahoo! Sports

Greatest moment

Shields will forever be known as a Chief, with his dedication to the team for 14 years, and among one of the best guards to ever play. He started 223 consecutive games and went to 12 Pro Bowls.

In a career highlighted by paving routes for running backs, perhaps his best feat is helping anchor a line that in 1994 yielded 19 sacks, a team record for fewest in a season. That year was Joe Montana's final season in the NFL.

Aaron Murray on Georgia's quarterback competition from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

So he knows what Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta, his two former teammates at Georgia, have been going through this year, and what Greyson Lambert will experience now that he's joined the competition.

In fact, Bauta has reached out to Murray, asking for advice.

"I told him: This is the best time," Murray said. "You want someone there (competing) with you. It's only going to make you better. Competition brings out the best in everyone."

KMBC Video: Chiefs, fans have high hopes for upcoming season

Hunt, Peterson discuss Chiefs camping in Missouri from The St. Joseph News-Press

"First of all St. Joe and Western have done a great job with this facility," Peterson said. "One of the last things I did was to negotiate an agreement with the state of Missouri, Sen. (Charles) Shields, the president here (then Dr. James Scanlon) to bring the Chiefs back to Missouri from River Falls, Wisconsin. I frankly haven't seen the finished product until (Sunday) and it's very impressive.

"It is probably better than I thought. Great viewing place for fans. A great setting. It is a little hot, but we had hot days in River Falls. But without question it is the right move. The Chiefs are part of Missouri so they should be here for training camp."

Super Bowl rings all in the family for Patriots' Brandon Bolden from The Patriot Ledger

As a wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs, Frank Pitts earned two Super Bowl rings - one as a member of the team that lost what was known at the time as the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game (now known as Super Bowl I), the other for KC's 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

Six months ago, his grandson earned one.

"Growing up, I used to put the (championship) ring on," Patriots running back/special teamer Brandon Bolden reflected following Sunday's training camp practice on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. "It was like, I'll never get this because I didn't play football. Now I have one, so I'm excited."

Even Jim Caldwell is smiling about Detroit Lions' playoff chances from MLive.com

"I think it was my first year, maybe my second, one of the two, but nevertheless (Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid) comes across the field and we're talking to one another on the field and he looks at me and he says, 'Hey, how do you feel about being a head coach in the National Football League?' And I said, 'I feel pretty good.' Then he looked at me and he says, 'You know, these are pretty good gigs aren't they?' And the fact of the matter is he's absolutely right. This is a great opportunity. Not many people get the opportunity to do what we do, and we love it.

Countdown to College Football Kickoff 2015, Day 27: Derrick Thomas Still Sack King from Saturday Blitz

The NCAA didn't start counting sacks as an official FBS statistic until the 2000 season, but it's highly unlikely that anyone came near 27 quarterback turf-eating parties in one season prior to that, and the only one to come close since 2000 was Terrell Suggs, who collected 24 sacks for Arizona State in 2002.